Tuesday, December 30, 2008

After finishing student teaching in mid-November and my own classes in early December, I began applying for education jobs. I assumed that I would take the rest of the fall semester off, and then substitute teach in the spring. I wanted to get my online applications finished, though. I got a call back and, after two interviews, I was hired by a local school district!

I won't be a classroom teacher, but for now that's okay. Instead, I'll be the reading specialist. Basically, I'll be providing extra assistance to the students who need it. The position might not be there next year, based on funding, so I accepted it knowing that it might not last beyond the spring. I'm open to loving it. If I don't, it should open more doors than substitute teaching would. It feels right for me right now.

I start my new job on Jan. 5. That means that for all of December and a little less than half of November, I've had nothing to do. And you know what? I LOVE it. Maybe knowing that we prepared well for this break between student teaching and certification has let me relax and enjoy myself. And I really am enjoying myself.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

On my last day of student teaching, the students gave me illustrated letters wishing me luck and thanking me for being their teacher. I could scan some of the letters, but it'd be too hard to read their pencil writing. So, here are some quotes from the farewell letters that I particulary liked:

"Thank you for helping us learn.""You were one of my favorite teachers.""Sorry that sometimes we been goofing around.""You are the best teacher a student can ever have.""Thank you for helping us when we need help."

While I was re-reading these letters to create this post, I remembered a writing assignment that the students had. The kids had to write about something they were thankful for. One girl chose to write about God. One of her reasons why she was thankful for God was that he encourages her to do her best when she is tired of trying. It broke my heart that a third grader knows what it feels like to be tired of trying.

Tonight was my last-ever graduate class. As soon as my final transcripts are sent to the Illinois State Board of Education and I pay my fees, I'll have my teaching certificate. Since my classes are done and my student teaching is over, I have a bit of time to myself. Normally, I'd be panicking about not having a job or anything. My student teaching experience took so much out of me, though, that it's nice to have this time to get my head on straight again. It's also REALLY nice to have time to get all the stuff done that I've been putting off for way too long, like getting new tires and organizing closets.

In other news, my maternal grandfather is in the hospital. I'm not entirely clear on how this all happened, but he has sepsis, congestive heart failure, and renal failure. It sounds bad, but from what I've been told, the sepsis can be turned around and both the heart and renal failure are improving significantly. Yesterday, he was transfered from the ICU at South Suburban to an acute-care facility in Hammond, IN, which is another really good sign. It's also good that I have so much time to myself, because I can visit him more often.

So, that is all that is going on with me. Send me a message and let me know how you're doing, since it's been far too long since I've heard from some of you.